Canadian nightcrawler tips please

Im about to begin a worm bin again and i have my sights set on the canadian nightcrawler. I have raised euros/africans in the past but i didn't like how they were so small in size. I need the larger size of canadians for fishing. I dont know much about them but i do want to be successful at raising them.

I just bought a 1.7 cu ft mini fridge to make sure the temperature of my bin doesnt exceed 60 degrees. Down here in texas, temps get hot inside or out.

I am about to go buy some potting soil in which to place into plastic rubbermaid tubs. These will be the confines of my worms.

I have read around and it seems canadians dont like veggie scraps as much as the other worms. Apparently they prefer grains? I dont know what to feed them.

Can someone please give me some more tips on raising these big worms. Please dont try to convince me to switch to other worms just yet as i have made an investment to try out canadians. :)

Replies to This Discussion

Have you ever caught a largemouth with EF? I have a pond in my pasture with Catfish, Largemouth and Hybrid Bluegill. I've never caught a bass or catfish with EF, but the Bluegill seem to like them just fine.

Hi Trex 8692 and all; First lets talk about the natural environmental concerns for the subject species Lumbricus terrestris ,known by common names of Canadian nightcrawler or Northamerican nightcrawler,Dew worm and a few others.

The requirements are temps that are below 65 deg F. They do best in the 48-58 deg F. range. They are most active in that 10 degree range.

The bedding should be approximatly 6 inches deep and the best is a material called BUSS-Bedding. It iscardboard that is fine and light from a hammermill. It is available from Magic.com in 25lb packages or Wal-Mart in smaller 2&5 lb. packages. http://magicproducts.com/

The best bins are also at the mentioned site. They are made from foam.

The worms themselves take a year to mature to about 4-6 inches 6-8 inch worms take upto 2 years Full adult size. They will age to 15-20 years. Reach a very large size of a foot long. Some that I have isolated only breed when removed from prospective partners after they are more than 4-5 years old. I am certain that other species are similar in the reprodutive drive. Old adults seem to squirm togather around the outer edges of the bins.

When you do get ready to go fishing with these big worms you must keep them cool and fo course damp. Take the unused ones home and put back in the bin.

I dont use EE and EH anymore because i find they are too small for catfish. However, i might try them out again in the future. I had trouble growing them to sizes past 4 inches. The diet i gave them was oatmeal and veg scraps.

Laurenkittle@: ive been lurking these forums for quite awhile and finally am able to talk to you! You seem to be a lumbricus raising expert, so i thought you might be my best help. I do not plan on growing lumbricus in huge amounts, i just want a small sustainable culture to have ready for fishing at any time.

I feel that the mini fridge i bought will be good enough to keep them in. In case of power outtage i have a good amount of icepacks to last awhile, hehe.

Iis there any way for me to talk to you directly lkittle? Pm, email? Thanks all

Hi trex8692 and all If you are planing a fishing trip and know it a few days in advance. Heres a trick try it.

Take the worms you plan to use plus a few extra and place them in well dampened peatmoss leave them 24 hours. Then put them in cool aireated water 55 deg f for Lts, 65 deg f for Efs & Ehs 70 deg f EEs let them soak 8-12 hrs then back into the peatmoss sprinkle with oatmeal and powdered eggshells or wormchow from purena.

The worms outer skin is toughened by the acid in the peatmoss. The water bath firms the muscle structer and the food keeps their energy level up during your fishing trip.